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"Chirp?" Flap. Flap. Down.
"Chirp!" Flap down.
"Chirp!" Where? "Chirp!"
Where? Here? "Chrip! Chirp!"
"Chirp!" No. Flap. Flap.... More flaaaap.
"Chirp!" Turn. Jump. Jump. "Chirp!" Here! Here! Here! Here! Here!
Flap. Fly down. Flap.Flap. "Chirp!"
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The lone protagonist in the scene called ' Bottom of the Cave', Nyx recurred to dagger target practice. To pass the time. Sunset has already crept behind the buildings and only a dim light flooded the narrow courtyard.
The local transvestite was just frustrated. Frustrated at nothing directly. But he was.
He inhaled, not like he needed air or like he could smell or feel it. Merely a deliberate effort to collect his thoughts.
You stay. The dagger plunged the target near the center, but this time cracking the wood off in two. Shit. Oh, cool. Very cool. HAHAHAHAHAHAH! He throws his hands up in a vicious manner. I laughed so good! What do I take from that? Kill myself??
Dropping on his ass next to the wall, Nyx just drowsed himself off. How I ended up from a complete unit knocking down soldiers from left to the right to their grave to some crackpot who can't fucking decide what to do with his life?
My life. Trapped in human nonsense and peeking over my shoulder, thinking it's about time I was hanged due to someone's boredom. My life.
Sounds from my memories fall over bursting from my brain all at once. Men and women laughing at me at private parties. The sound of guards' punches. Chirping... Chirping?
Looking up from my lap I see Galen's yellow colored birds. Eh. Funny. They cling my pants and hop on my arms. Oh, that's pretty.
Although a little bit till dark, they wouldn't stop chirping. More of them showed up, some of which even took on my hair and shoulders as spots to nest.
Cute and all, but I think I'd better go inside. Tiny little wriggles, a couple of birds flied away but stuck back on to me. Great. Got hijacked by a flock of birds. Heh..Me and my loyal minions. Nyx scratches one of the birds on the head.
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Walking up the stairs to my room, a few people noticed me.
"Hey Nyx! What you got.."
Jerry was exiting from one of the larger rooms, designed to fit about 3 or 4 people. He was briefly distracted by the small flock of birds nestling on my body. "No judging, I have four cats. It's pretty much the same thing, except the little buggers scratch my furniture." he winks at me and makes his way, down to the dining room or maybe outside.
Locking my door, everyone began fly and chirp exorbitantly through out the somewhat small space, some landing on the wooden plywood on the wall and others on the bed frame or desk.
Ok my little minions. Bed time. Nyx claps, making a sharp, harsh clicking noise grinding his hands, sending the birds flying off and clinging to him again. More than careful, he slowly lies down in the bed trying not to hurt the little creatures. Making them all jump up and nestle on his vest and legs.
Even if catching up on sleep wasn't a stone golem gig, for Nyx it was just conserving energy. He failed to do so last night, him just standing around and lending George and Silvia a little help.
Now before his rest he was left alone again with his thoughts, the birds already on their way to the dreamland or whatever the birds did while they slept. Stay in the city, go with the rest of the troop to the battlefield... Pff...shitty options. I'm almost due to pay rent again. Surely the gold in my pocket is enough, maybe for a year? Four silver coins a month...multiplied by 12..eh.... How much is a gold coin worth in silver?
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"I tell you, I dunno what I can do about it." Right now, Dörk was leaning on the window sill, taking a puff on his cigarette. "You know, when I went off to and learned all this mumbo-jumbo about magic I was on my own! I give that girl the golden wishbone!"
In a chair by the table was Danny, also smoking one of HIS cigarettes. "You're stupid. YOU made it SOUND like the war in the south is based in WHOLE THING about her." he taps off the ash. "She's scared. She just needs a little encouragement. Maybe who knows, she's built for this kind of action." Danny laughs, alluding to the stone woman.
Dörk just grins. "You have no idea." he alludes the trail of corpses leading up to this point. "Well.. you order guards all day. What do you propose?" The wizard turns to the lieutenant.
He takes another puff. "Hell if I know. I yell at my men if I have to, but women...I don't have women guards." he leans on the table. "I can't talk right to women. Yet alone make them do stuff for me, you do remember my fuckin' wife, eh?...Ungly hag.."
Dörk giggles. "Well, the sweet talk didn't work."
"Not for me either." adds the lieutenant. "Give up?"
At that Dörk winced. "Hell no!" he exclaims. "It's more annoying she can't talk so we can agree like two adults."
Danny crossed his arms. "Ok..so how about you just take her with you." Dörk almost explodes with rage. "Yeah, yeah. You already want to do that. But how about you just take her and show her what it's like on the battlefield." Danny takes one last puff.
Dörk frowned. "Danny, you square head, that's exactly what I aim to do."
Danny sighed. "Well, it's not very smart anyway."
"What? But you just...!"
"You said she doesn't really have a thing for glory or anything what so ever." He taps the table, trying to help his friend. "How about blood?" he smiles.
A lousy smile for a lousy idea. Dörk deadpanned. "From where? From the hospital?"
Danny shook his head. "Dead soldiers, you big air fart." Danny extinguished his cigarette in the ashtray and got to his feet. "You show up there, you holler she's to help for... I don't know exactly what... And that she gets to suck soldiers off. Of blood. " he sneers.
Dörk deadpanned haaard. " Fuck how are you a lieutenant?"
The lieutenant cried. "I dunno man, she's got money, possibly still her job or looking for something else, she's strong, pretty... Damn I want her gone more than you do." Danny frowned. "The only reason we could lock her up is because she let us to. I don't wanna sit and watch her go hungry."
"Yes! She's a complete unit." Dörk fell on the bed. "Basic soldiers, lizards or humans are inferior to her. She can help so much."
Danny was getting bitter. "Careful D, you're starting to sound more and more like a politician."
Dörk screamed mute. "You take that back." But Dörk was somewhat worried. Maybe his years were catching up with him and his mouth was getting bitter. "When I start fooling the population, maybe then you can call me by that."
"Don't you already do that with overcharging for your refrigerators?"
"KYAAA I DON'T!"
------------------------26th day in Elth---------------------
"Chirp, chirp." One of the little yellow birds pecked the eyelid, causing the tough transvestite to 'wake up' from his rest and poked the bird with his finger.
The sun was nowhere over the horizon, but there was still enough light to make the room little over dim. Nyx watched the room, making sure every bird was alert. Only to latch onto me again.
Ooh... this restricted motion was getting irritating. He gets up and opens the window, waving them to fly away, but not one does. Wait. Those are Galen's birds. Oh no! Was he calling me to him like this?
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Passing through the city, he ran past a few people starting their day early. Including some working women, as Silvia called them, offering to 'Let me give you head.' ???
Out through the main gate, the sun was beating little over the horizon. Now the birds unfurled and began circling Nyx, before kicking off. To Galen then.
Maybe running was a bad call for saving energy BUT IT FELT GOOD! Nyx thought excitedly, not far behind the birds.
Sprinting down the river, two logs were left near the sawmill, but no man was around here yet. Maybe I'll stop by on my way back to check if Floyd is still keeping me hired.
After some 15 minutes of constant running I arrive at the old trunk. "Somebody's getting faster, eh? I wonder how, eh?"
Nyx winced for a second hearing the voice in his head. Galen was by one of the trees, sipping from a leather flask. Playing with the golem's synthetic heart.
But Nyx's lack of words was a little laughable. A week without a word between the two of them was worrying for the friendly giant.
Yo.
Galen smiles. 'Yo' back at ya. I thought you might have come by last night when my little messengers showed up.
Nyx smiled back embarrassed. Yeah..sorry, I didn't get the message until this morning when they wouldn't leave. HaHa...
The firbolg giant takes another sip from the flask. Well, they like you a lot. He jumps over a tree, landing on the bank of the river and shaking the ground a bit. They like to look you up and gossip about you. A lot. He scratches his scalp.
They're cute... Wait... Are you spying on me?!
Indirectly, yes. But hey, they're effectively my neighbors and their only neighbor, so what can you do. Galen laughs under his beard, sitting on the tree trunk. They said they hadn't seen you all week until two nights ago. They said they saw you with a woman? Hehe.. good for you. He winks.
If it was just that. Nyx sad outlooked
Yeah, they said something about a, uh, roof crashing?
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With another mouthful of water Galen reanalyzed the matter. So you've gotten yourself arrested, I mean imprisoned.
Uh-huh.
For a whole week?
Yep.
And then you fought a vampire? The girl the birds were talking about.
Cleo, yeah.
Did you guys kiss first?
Blushing wasn't one of Nyx's attributes. YEAH! He gives two thumbs up.
OH YES! Galen mimics the gesture. But the giant clears his throat. Too bad you had to, you know, kill her. He shrugs.
Nyx held his head inside the palms. Pretty shitty, huh?
Galen flushes more water down his throat, nodding in response. Is that how you got faster? By drinking her blood?
Maybe, I'm not sure. Nothing else special so maybe just that. Nyx was dangling an answer.
Galen rubbed his beard. What if you drank my blood, eh? Maybe you'll get taller? HAHA!
Dear god, please don't say that. Nyx laughs mentally. Pretty important question though. But I don't think drinking fish blood will make me swim. He adds to the conversation.
Galen just laughed out loud. Eh.. pretty funny! And these adventurers, what are they like?
I don't know much about any of them. A guy named Jerry's the group's clown and Dörk's the leader, I think. The group itself is nice, they didn't destroy the inn, so Silvia didn't get to murder them. Sky riders or something, name's strange.
It's nice to have friends you can call on in a pinch. So they're going south to war? Pretty hot spot. I know I said seek out adventure but.. I didn't suggest such grand scale. It's pretty perilous.
Leaning on one side, Nyx just shrugs. That old man, Dörk, asked me to join them, saying I'm the hero everyone needs. Nyx cringes and rolls his eyes.
Pff...yeah sure, I give you credit for managing to fight Lili, but even so, she kind of screwed you over a little. You've been a cranky for a while. Sore loser. Galen threw one over my shoulder.
Exactly. How am I supposed to handle myself out there? I mean, I can run the peninsula and raid town after town for blood like an ANIMAL with soldiers on my tail. Well, till I get myself another captain with a sharpe enough sword , cutting me in two.
Oh come on. You're not that kind of brute. You were just out there all alone, betrayed and with little direction. Galen pauses and exhales. You really wanna go?
Nyx was now in her perspective. Well... you said to make friends and travel. These people go to war but there are many and, I think, experienced. I'm just.. afraid...
Galen sighed. Promise you won't do anything really stupid, yeah? If things get bad, you leave. And Nyx nods.
On that, Galen stands up off the log and stretches his back. Okay, let's go.
The 'woman' statue followed. Where we going?
--------------------------------------------------------------
"Push!" commanded the little dwarf boss of the lumberjacks, Floyd. He and Finn and Phill were presently with the rest of the woodmen picking up the logs ready on the saw-ramp.
"Boss! Look!" one of the workers in the background stopped, pointing at something outside.
"You wanker! Stick your hand back on and don't make it get loose!" commented Floyd. Top of the morning, yeah sure, but the last order of the week was almost ready so that meant money. One last push places the tree trunk on the saw.
Gasping for air, Floyd could only roar. "''What the fuck is so exciting, eh?!'" The boss poked his head out through the doorway, looking around, stopping and petrified when he saw a colossus of a man.
Floyd just panicked. "Oh fuck! The giant came out of the woods!" Running back into the mill. "He's come to do us in ' for stealing his trees! We're done for!"
Finn was colossally stunned. Not enough not see for himself. Also seeing as how behind him was his missing colleague. "Floyd. Look, Nyx is back."
Floyd's attention is riveted and he sticks his head out the window. "That's her all right!" The couple slowly walked closer toward the building before Finn and Phill exited down the footpath.
The Giant cleared his throat at the presence of people. "Greetings, men! Floyd.." Galen added, nodding toward the dwarf in the window, startling him in response. "We were on our way to town, and my friend here was gonna make a stop." He turns to Nyx, slightly embarrassed for some reason.
Galen sulks. "Okay, okay. Your friend Nyx says it's been nice working with you guys and he's quitting." In the background Nyx just waves his hand in accordance to Galen.
'Him'! People attending the small chat thought, all turning a little green faced, having realized they were staring down all this time, at a man.
Finn just laughs. "Yeah I don't blame you, the pay sucks bad." He tightens his belt. "It's too bad we never really had a real drink that's all. "
"Good luck and best of all." adds Phil, shaking hands with their current ex-coworker.
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Passing the bridge guards was a bit irritating. Galen trying to bribe, having no money, with my money. Or threaten. Some say the latter worked.
Place looks nice. He thought, looking around, taking in the buildings and the squares, along with a couple of street booths.
Nothing to tell, people were scurrying out of his way, naturally. And he stops at one of the booths. "Oh Nyx! Can you buy me a couple of these? He points to a stand of tomatoes." Turning to Nyx, begging like a puppy.
Nyx just shrugs. Searching through his pockets for the money pouch, he found only the one with the gold coins.
Shit, I must have left the rest in my backpack.
Well whatever, it's worth it for Galen. Tossing a gold coin to the frightened vendor under the counter, he produces a rather large sack of tomatoes from the back of the store.
Galen smiles, taking the bag and slung it back over his shoulder. "Aah... the city is so useful. What else is around here?"
How about more shopping?
Galen smiles happily he could enjoy himself more with Nyx, but he shakes his head. "Maybe, after we talk to this Dörk guy."
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The main man of the Skybinders, talking about self nicknames, Dörk had helped his fellow party-men replenish their stocks, from various chemicals or materials. No point in leaving them gallivanting through town, all the while getting them good deals. He and the rest of the wizards were to leave about afternoon.
Well, more like breaking through dimension with a portal but.. technicalities.
The main man himself refilled on magnesium, calcium and sodium, some of his favorite materials. And a lot of sulfur.
Magic and runes be they useful, a good old explosion or super burn might be plenty. Little rations like dried beef and... wine... were essential. Along with other preserves, like bread, boiled eggs and sausages.
And yet amidst the strange preparations of the wizards, the main man was dejected. Thinking about the absence of the female lump of rock was to be lamented.
Sitting at one of the two long tables sipping a little drink, in the dining room of 'The Cave', George entered through the back door. "Eh..Dörk..Nyx is calling you in the back."
Also grabbing his mug of beer, he proceeds to the back exit. "What's up?" asks Dörk. In front of him near the corner of the building was Nyx, a single hand holding over the opposite shoulder. The stone golem saluted at Dörk, breaking his stance but then recovering. The wizard was ready to speak, but no one knew what he was about to say when a figure about twice as tall as Nyx rounded the corner.
The giant firbolg gave a broad smile. "Greetings all. Nice day, what ya say?" he took a few steps next to Nyx and put his large hand over his shoulder, possibly catching his entire back. "My name's Galen, nice to meet you, now who's Dörk, the man looking to carry my friend here to war?" Galen glances toward George. "Not you, you don't look like a wizard." and turns to the real Dörk. "Definitely you." he says lowering his voice.
Dörk swallowed hard. "Eh...Yes..I'm Dörk, nice to meet you." Oh boy. I heard that someone, something, moved nearby a little while before I left Elth, but I thought it was hogwash! "Well, Galen, my friendly neighbor, she's quite extraordinary, you know." he chuckles. "She.."
Galen stops him, raising his hand.
"I know how special he is, more than you do. Now listen. He and I don't agree at all about this war or politics or human nonsense. If you'd gone anywhere else, I would've pushed him in the wagon myself. But here you are, a whole party of magicians." he sighed.
Dörk interrupts the giant, eager to add to the chatter. "I can assure you..."
But Galen again doesn't let him finish. "...you can assure me, along with the rest of your men, to keep him safe, far away from the front line. Behind a wall if you gotta. He is to watch from afar." He pauses momentarily, returning his eyes for a second to Nyx. "And no one finds out what he is."
George now understood. They speak telepathically.
Dörk just nodded. "I promise."
Galen nodded back. " Good. Now if you don't mind, I don't pass through town at all. Nyx, my friend, to more shopping we go." Galen says, mid-sentence laughing and leaving in the company of the stone woman.
Dörk rubs the back of his head and sweatdrops a little. But of the two, George breaks the silence. "Nice friend Nyx has."